Farmers' efforts fail as pesticide levels in rivers continue to rise

Pesticide levels in river water have increased despite efforts by farmers and growers to reduce their environmental impact, a new report has said.

Nearly 8 per cent of samples taken from rivers in 2005 exceeded the maximum permitted levels for drinking water.

That compared to 5.43 per cent the previous year and was the highest level since Environment Agency monitoring started in 1998.

The figures are included in a new report by the Pesticides Forum which advises the Government.

They are based on Environment Agency routine monitoring of nine different pesticides at a set of freshwater sites in England and Wales.

The previous highest recorded level was 7.69 per cent in 2001. It was 7.98 per cent in 2005.

It is difficult to say why the increase occurred, the report says, adding: "Pesticide levels can vary every year for a variety of reasons depending on what crops are being grown, the choice of product used and weather patterns."

The pesticide levels shouldn't be seen as a risk to aquatic life because drinking water standards aren't related to the impact of pesticides on the environment, the report says.

Sites monitored by the Environment Agency were chosen to reflect pesticide use rather than factory discharges or previous contamination.

James Clarke, Pesticides Forum chairman, said: "It is very disappointing to note that in 2005, at a headline level, we saw increased levels of pesticides in water, but lower sales of pesticides in recent years.

"This highlights just how much we need to know to fully understand what is happening."

Mr Clarke said better data was needed on pesticide use patterns as well as better information about its impact.

In 2005 the volume of pesticides sold to agriculture and horticulture dropped by 18 per cent on the previous year.

The Pesticides Forum was set up by the Government in 1996 to monitor the use and effects of pesticides.

Every year it produces both an annual report and a report which monitors the impact of pesticide use.